ESPN Layoffs Affect Former Players
Ryan Clark isn’t the only ex-ESPN player who’ve faced a tough ejection. Recently, Bart Scott, a former Jets linebacker, shared his experience with the layoffs at the network. He revealed that ESPN had informed him right before his show aired last month that he would be laid off.
Scott recounted the moment on “The Joint Venture Show,” saying, “I was about to go on my radio show and they called me up and were like, ‘Hey, um, I just wanted to let you know, I wish I could do it in person.’ No, that’s not true, Mom. I was like, ‘Oh, I wish I could do it in person.’ But there it was—my contract runs out in September, so I knew this was part of the job.” It seems he was somewhat prepared, though the delivery could have been better.
The way ESPN managed these layoffs has drawn significant criticism. High-profile figures impacted include Clark, Scott, MLB play-by-play commentator Carl Labeque, and former NFL MVP Cam Newton. Particularly, Clark’s exit generated outrage after he was told he was let go during an episode of “NFL Live.” ESPN had apparently wanted to prevent him from learning about his situation through social media.
Reflecting on being let go, Clark mentioned on X, “Should I call it a day? The answer was yes.” Scott, on the other hand, appreciated his earlier heads-up, which spared him the awkwardness of having to broadcast without knowing what was going on.
Even though Scott’s experience wasn’t ideal, he claims to hold no grudges against ESPN. He started with them in 2017 after a solid NFL career and has been involved in various shows, like “Get Up,” along with his radio work.
“You understand the balance, but you don’t really know all the ins and outs when they need to trim down,” Scott explained. “I’ve been laid off before, but sometimes losing a job can turn out to be a blessing, nudging you to explore new paths. Change is constant. I’m thankful for my time at ESPN and grateful for the opportunities it provided me, even though I wasn’t a top draft pick or a Hall of Famer.”
However, he expressed regret about not partnering with fellow former NFL player Shannon Sharpe, as both work for CBS and ESPN. Scott spoke about how his stint on “The NFL Today” helped prepare him for the sports media landscape.
“I knew I would be able to work with Shannon,” he said, before admitting that in this industry, there are often expectations about how shows should look. “Sometimes they think too many similar demographics can be an issue, which is frustrating since both Shannon and I have a lot to offer.” Apparently, this isn’t a new concern, highlighting some of the complexities in how the media operates, especially in sports.
